Van Vihar National Park National Park

Address: Van Vihar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462001, India

Hours: Daily 6:00am-6:00pm (park grounds); zoo hours vary

Admission: No entry fee for park grounds; zoo enclosures may have separate fees (varies).

Van Vihar National Park is an urban national park and zoological garden in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, located beside the city’s Upper Lake (Bhojtal). It functions both as a protected green space and as a managed wildlife facility within the city.

The park comprises wooded areas and landscaped enclosures where animals are kept in large, naturalistic settings; pathways and viewpoints run along the lake edge and through the park, offering opportunities to see deer, primates and a variety of water and woodland birds. The facility is managed to balance conservation, public access and animal care rather than to operate as a fully free-roaming wilderness.

Van Vihar was developed in the late 20th century as part of Bhopal’s urban planning to protect lakeside land and provide a wildlife area within the city. Management since its creation has focused on maintaining habitats, captive-animal care and visitor facilities.

The park sits on the southern shore of Bhojtal (Upper Lake) in central Bhopal, easily reachable from the city centre and adjoining roads; the lake-side location gives the park a mix of woodland and wetland habitats and makes it a frequent stop for local visitors and birdwatchers.

• Area: Covers about 4.45 square kilometres on the southern shore of Bhopal’s Upper Lake (Bhojtal), making it an urban national park in the centre of the city.
• Wildlife: Displays a mix of free-ranging herbivores and animals kept in naturalistic enclosures; commonly seen species include spotted deer, rhesus macaques, peafowl and various waterbirds linked to the adjacent lake.

Van Vihar is centrally located in Bhopal adjacent to the Upper Lake (Bhojtal). From New Market or Raisen Road areas, the park is a short taxi or auto-rickshaw ride. Local buses serve nearby stops; parking is available at the main entrance.

• Visit at dawn or dusk when the captive animals are most active and the lakes are quiet.
• Use the east gate to avoid the busiest parking area near the zoo complex.
• Combine the park walk with a visit to the nearby Upper Lake (Bhojtal) for birdwatching.